This site is the location of a former precious metal recovery operation. Chemical Metals Industries, Inc. (now defunct) operated this site to recover precious metals from chemical wastes and electrical circuit boards. In 1981, the State of Maryland reported this site to the EPA and EPA commenced an emergency response at the site. The site, consisting of two properties, had been abandoned, and contained over 1000 drums and almost 20,000 gallons of liquid wastes in tanks. The removal of these materials was completed in December 1981. In 1998, EPA returned to the site and excavated contaminated soils from the 2103 Annapolis Road property, then re-asphalted the open areas of the property.
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has been addressing the remaining groundwater and vapor intrusion issues. Groundwater contamination has been treated with injections to reduce contamination levels. Vapor intrusion is the migration of vapors from groundwater or soil contamination into basements or first floors of buildings in proximity to the contamination. Indoor air sampling has been conducted by MDE in a number of the homes in between the two properties. MDE is working on addressing the low-level risks associated with the vapor intrusion identified to date.
In response to a 1998 Superfund Memorandum of Agreement, delegating responsibility for the 2001 Annapolis Road site to EPA, EPA agreed to collect surface and subsurface soil samples to determine if contamination in the soil could be contributing to vapor intrusion into the adjacent row houses.
On July 8, EPA and its' contractors mobilized to the site to collect surface and subsurface soil samples. These samples were collected to determine if contamination in the soil could be contributing to groundwater contamination or vapor intrusion into the adjacent homes. 17 subsurface samples (to a depth of 11 feet below ground surface) and three surface soil samples were collected. Samples were sent to a laboratory for analysis.
EPA and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have reviewed the data collected during the July 8, 2009 sampling. The sample results indicate that there are some areas of elevated volatile organic compound contamination on the site. However, these areas are generally not adjacent to the home at 2009 Annapolis Road, and in fact the highest levels identified were in the sample furthest from the homes. These samples were also at a depth of three feet or more below ground surface (four out of five of these samples were seven feet or deeper), and therefore are not a direct contact threat. Given the location and depth of these samples, it also does not appear that contamination in soils is contributing to groundwater contamination or vapor intrusion (the highest levels found were in samples at the water table depth - it is believed that these samples reflect contamination in the groundwater).
Semi-volatile organice compounds were found in surface and subsurface samples. However, the levels found were within the range of normal background for urban soils for this class of chemicals.
Based on the information above, it is believed that conducting a soil cleanup at the site would not contribute to an improvement in groundwater quality or reduce vapor intrustion at the adjacent homes.
No further removal actions are planned at this site.
Information will be provided to the Remedial program and to the Maryland Department of the Environment.
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